Kristin Klingshirn Part 2: The Real Cost of Being Vulnerable Online
Kristin Klingshirn is back for part two of her conversation with Justin, this time going deep on the social media strategy behind The Kristin Show. Last episode ended with a viral Easter Bunny reel that pulled in 1.5 million views. This episode is about everything underneath that number: the boundaries, the strategy, and the cost of putting yourself out there publicly.
Earn the Trust Before You Test It
Kristin's first rule of radio doubles as her first rule of social media. Give your audience a reason to love you before you give them a reason to disagree with you. Coming in hot with strong opinions before people know who you are rarely works. Build the relationship first. Once it exists, people extend more grace, and more of your real personality can come through.
Perfection Is Optional, Authenticity Is Not
Kristin describes herself as a perfectionist who will edit a piece of content until it's unrecognizable. Her advice runs the opposite direction. The viral Easter Bunny reel actually had an audio glitch in the opening frame, and it still hit 1.5 million views. Her rule now: if something feels inauthentic or forced once it is finished, do not post it. That is not wasted time, it is a lesson learned. If it feels honest, imperfections do not matter nearly as much as people think they do.
Setting Boundaries with the Haters
Kristin stopped using Facebook entirely because she found the comments too harsh for her mental health, and admits she used to seek out negative comments even when they hurt her. Her current rule: treat her platform like her own house. Disagreement is welcome. Disrespect gets you blocked. She has also learned to separate criticism worth taking from criticism that says more about the commenter than about her. Advice she'd give anyone: if you would not take advice from someone, do not take their criticism either.
The Different Rules for Women
Kristin is candid about the different standard she faced compared to her former co-host Bert. The same joke that got him a laugh got her far harsher pushback, especially from women in the audience, and comments about her appearance were common in a way her male co-host never experienced. Her summary of the unwritten rules many women in public roles face: funny, but not too funny, pretty, but not too pretty, smart, but not too smart, opinionated, but not too opinionated. Her response, especially as she's gotten older, has been to simply be herself and let people decide how they feel about it.
Talking About Grief Without Shrinking
After her father passed away, Kristin spoke openly about grief on air and online. One listener commented that she talked about her dad too much. For a moment she considered going quiet on the topic entirely. She decided against it. Censoring something that mattered to her would have made her less authentic, not more comfortable for one uncomfortable stranger. Her rule now: if something is genuinely on her heart, she shares it, and lets the discomfort belong to whoever feels it.
This is part two of a two part conversation. If you missed part one, go back and listen to how Kristin built her brand for fourteen years on The Burt Show before starting over as The Kristin Show.
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Justin Landis is the founder of Justin Landis Group and Bolst, two of Atlanta's leading real estate companies. He lives in Atlanta with his wife and three daughters and has been selling Atlanta real estate since 2008.
